Improvement in corn-harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE. i

THOMAS H. STORMS AND JOHN O. POFFENBERGER, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILL.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-HARVESTERS.

Specification Aforming part of Letters Patent No. 45,282, dated November .'29, 1864.

,To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, THOMAS H. S'roRMs and JOHN C. POEEENEERGER, of Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Cutting and Shocking Oorn; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, making a part ot' this specification, in which- Figure l is a side sectional view of our invention, taken in the line .'12, Fig.3; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section of the same, taken 'in' the line y y, Fig. I; Fig. 3, a horizontal section ot' the same, taken in the line y' y', Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This `invention relates to a new and improved machine, whereby standing corn may be cut and lett upon the field in shocks, the whole work being done at one operation and with one and the same machine.

A represents the main frame of the machine,

which is composgd ot' two parallel side bars, a'

a, connected at their front ends by a crossbar, b. This frame is mounted on two Wheels, B B, the axles C of which are bent to admitot' the wheels being large in diameter and the frame A being low or quite near the ground.

On the cross-bar b of the frameA the cutting device D is placed, the same' consisting of a stationary plate, c, provided with V-shaped stationary collars d, underneath which similar cutters, e, work, the latter being formed in a plat, f,which has a reciprocating motion given it by means of a crank and'pitman and gearing E from one of the wheels B.

The front part ot' the frame A is sustained by a pair ot' small wheels, F F, the axle g ot' which has its king-bolt It passing through the front end ot' a bar, G.

H H are two parallel bars', placed one at each side of the frame A, and fitted in bearings t' t', so that they are allowed to turn. On each side ot' these bars H there is fitted a sliding platform, I, one ot' which has a bar, J, projecting trom it suiciently far to bear or rest on the bar a at the opposite side ot' the traine A, and serve as a support for the latter.

Underneath the front parts of' the bars HH there is a bar or shaft, K, of dat form, and having a lip,j, attached to it at about its center, and a lever, L, attached to one end ofit. This shaft, when turned up edgewise, raises the bars H H and platforms I I and keeps them in a more elevated position than when turned.

down tlatwise.

M represents an upright framing, in the upper partot which there is a windlass, N, composed ot` a horizontal shaft, 7c, with a ratchetwheel, Z, upon it, into which a pawl, m, catches. This shaft It has two cords or chains, n n, attached to it, which extend down and are connected to slides O O, which are tted in vertical slots o o4 in the sides of the framing M. These slides O O project from opposite sides ot' a horizontal 'annular frame, I), having an open space, p, at its front part, and to the rear of the frame P, on its upper surface, there are secured by one and the samepivot, q, two semicircular bars, Q O. (Shown clearlyin Fig. 3.)

To the inner end ot' each slide O there is secured by a pivot, r, ajaw, s. The inner ends 'of these jaws are of concave form, and at their outer ends they are bent upward and inward in hook form, as shown at t. Thejaws s both pass through loops u u, attached to the bars Q Q.

R is a reel, which is attached toa shaft, S, at the upper end ot' a bar, T. This reel is driven by a belt, c, from the shat't to ot' one ot1 the gears E.

U is a rest composed ot' a semicircular bar attached to a horizontal arm, V, which pro jects from the upright framing M.

The operation is as follows: As the machine is drawn along the corn is cut by the cutting device D, and is retained by the rest U, the reel It forcing the stalks into the rest, and when four or ve hills are out the attendant takes them from the rest U and places them within the frame P and between the bars Q Q. This operation is repeated until there are asufticient number of stalks in the frame I? to forni a shock. The operator then draws together the distended front ends of the semicircular bars Q Q. and thereby causes the loops a u to draw down t'he jaws s s, which grasp the upper part ofthe shock, the bars Q Q and jaws s being raised or lowered to the desired height by means ot the windlass N. The bar K is then turned atwise, which lets down the platforms I Ia trie, and the lip j throws back or starts the platforms, which are forced back to the rear of the bars H H, and

the platforms are then turned upward out of the way. The operatorvthen throws the pawl m out from the ratchet l, thereby liberating the stock which descends upon the ground with the butts of the stalks in a loose or spread state, aiording va good base to support the shock and admitting of a circulation of air through the shock. The bars Q, Q are then forced apart, and the loops u u strike the hooks t and throw up the jaws s s, and the frame P is raised toits former position. The platforms I are then turned down and shoved forward to the front part of the frame A, as before, the bar K turned edgewise, and the machine again started for a succeeding operation.

We claim Vas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. The adjustable or pivoted semcircular bars Q Q, in connection with thejaws s s and annular frame P, all constructed as shown, to operate suhstantiallyin the manner as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The windlass N, when used in combina tion with the annular frame l? and its attached parts, substantially as and for the `purpose specified.

3. The sliding and adj ustable platforms I I, arranged in connection with the bars H H K, so as to admit of holding the stalks until they are grasped by the jaws s s, and then admit of being shoved back and turned upward to allow of' the stock being discharged, as described.

4. The rest U, in combination with the reel Pwcutting device D, movable or pivoted bars Q Q, jaws s s, annular frameP, slides O O, and windlass N, arranged on a mounted frame,

t substantially as and for the purpose specified.

THOS. H. STORMS. JNO. C. POFFENBERGEB.

Witnesses CHRIS. MIoHAELs, Gnus. L. HAsTINGs. 

